Whenever a “racial” incident happens, race is such a go-to excuse. The “race is the root of all evil” ideology is as old as time. Race is strategic in society and people choose when to rely on it and when not to. (Classic example Casey Anthony vs. OJ Simpson)

On July 18, 2011, Jason Fordell was riding the train in the Bronx. A group of minority men were speaking loudly and Fordell asked them to lower their voices. That’s when the racial slurs started. Fordell said the group started calling him “cracker” and “white boy this, white boy that”. When the Hispanic jumped in, Fordell fired back “spic”. At this instant, the argument escalated. The men started to stomp on Fordell and “eventually, half the car” joined in”. Fordell insists the beating was a hate crime.

The NYPD said the incident is not a hate crime because other elements have to be taken into account such as “was race the motivating factor in the assault”. Fordell admitted, “if I was dressed in ‘hip hop’ and I was darker, I don’t think it would have happened in the first place.” That assumption is a racial one and it’s interesting when one becomes the very being they hate.

If both parties are engaging in racial slurs, does that negate the fact that this is a hate crime? Should Fordell have moved to a different train to avoid confrontation?